Janelle Heslop •  Sustainability Engineer

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I am a

SUSTAINABILITY ENGINEER

Janelle Heslop

Presented by The Amgen Foundation
MY PATH

Here’s how I became an environmental leader, adventurer, and sustainability engineer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • Critical Mentors

    Since high school, finding the right mentors to support and guide me has had a huge impact on my path.

  • Uplifting Friendships

    I have a close group of friends, many of whom are also women of color, that are always rooting for me.

  • Spiritual Guidance

    I never followed a perfect “10 year plan”, but felt incredibly blessed along my journey.

  • Supportive Family

    I’ve always had a highly supportive family that has played a big role in my success.

I never knew exactly where I was going to end up.

From high school through college, I often second guessed my choices and struggled to determine exactly what I wanted to study. I liked many subjects and wasn’t always sure if the one I chose would lead me down the right career path. Now, I’m glad I trusted the process and let my heart lead me.

Major Milestones

Meeting Engineers

When my middle school invited engineers to speak about their work, it inspired me to consider engineering as a career.

Engineers Without Borders

While working on energy and water systems in East Africa, I realized my passion for pursuing a healthier planet and communities.

Grad School at MIT

Completing MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations program opened my eyes to all the amazing opportunities for bridging the worlds of business, engineering, and environmental impact.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • A lot of STEM is about people.

    One of the most complex and challenging parts of my job is working with people. Human nature is part of every problem, so while technical skills definitely matter, you also need to be able to communicate well with others and be a good team player.

  • You don't need a perfect plan.

    It’s pretty normal to doubt your career choices, but if you take each step according to your values and what motivates you, you’re on the right path (even if it’s not a straight line).

  • It's OK to love more than one thing.

    Building skills across business, engineering, and environmental studies prepared me for exciting and unique jobs that I didn’t even know existed. You can pursue skills in multiple areas, and there will probably be careers that would benefit from them.

  • Supportive community is everything.

    I couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without my support network. These are people that can help me work through challenges, provide advice, or just have a good time with.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Idalmiz López • Illustrator: Laurie Anne Poquet

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